I Know You're in There

After leaving the Gale Family, Xiao Zhan first checked Xiao Yan's injuries. Once he confirmed there was no serious problem, he breathed a deep sigh of relief before cupping his hands to Ya Fei in thanks.

"Young Lady Ya Fei, thank you for resolving the situation today. I, Xiao, will remember this kindness."

Although the Xiao Family would have to cover thirty percent of the Gale Family's Hui Chun San ingredient costs free of charge from now on, this outcome was already far better than having the two great families fight to mutual destruction.

Moreover, even with such a compromise, Gale Bi would never have accepted it without Ya Fei mediating between them in the name of the Mite'er Family.

Just as Gale Bi had said, he had accepted the mediation mostly to give Ya Fei face—and to give the Mite'er Family behind her face.

"Clan Leader Xiao, there is no need to take it to heart. As Ya Fei just said, if Wutan City's two great families truly fought until both sides were badly damaged, the Miter Auction House would inevitably be implicated as well. Naturally, Ya Fei could not simply stand by."

There was no falsehood in Ya Fei's words. From a merchant's perspective, how much money could ordinary people possibly have to spend? Most of the Miter Auction House's income still came from Wutan City's three great families.

If the Gale Family and Xiao Family went to war, both families' finances would surely suffer a severe blow. The Miter Auction House depended on Wutan City's three great families for profit; if two suddenly disappeared, how could the Mite'er Family bear it?

But regardless of what she said, Ya Fei's greater reason for intervening in the conflict between the two families was Xiao Yan.

After all, what Xiao Yan had done this time had truly gone too far. If things continued, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

But then again, this is the first time I've seen little brother Xiao Yan handle something so ruthlessly.

Ya Fei's delicate eyebrow furrowed slightly as she looked towards Xiao Yan on Xiao Yu's back.

After three years of knowing him, Ya Fei understood deeply that Xiao Yan was absolutely not someone who acted without restraint. She had never heard of him handling anything without leaving room to turn back.

Yet the scene in the Gale Family Courtyard just now had truly given Ya Fei a fright. Gale Ao having all four limbs broken was already bad enough, but Liu Xi was even more horrifying. With such miserable methods, if the evidence had not been right before her eyes, Ya Fei would never have believed Xiao Yan was responsible.

It seems this little brother still has some sides I don't understand.

Thinking this, Ya Fei looked towards Xiao Zhan and spoke softly.

"Clan Leader Xiao, Ya Fei will return to the Auction House first. I hope your noble young master recovers soon."

"Ah, take care."

After seeing Ya Fei off, Xiao Zhan turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, who was being carried on Xiao Yu's back. A faint bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"This kid... it's the first time I've seen him strike so ruthlessly."

Xiao Yu gazed at Xiao Yan, who was sleeping against her shoulder, and her delicate eyebrow furrowed slightly. Though she was shocked by how viciously Xiao Yan had acted, there was something else she found even harder to understand.

Xiao Zhan and her grandfather had arrived too late to know what happened, but she had been at the scene. She had clearly seen the blow Xiao Yan and Gale Bi had exchanged.

It was not that Xiao Yu wished Xiao Yan ill, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was extremely abnormal for his arm not to have been completely shattered by that strike.

Xiao Yu knew that because Xiao Yan had once been unable to cultivate Dou Qi, he had continuously trained his physique. His body was indeed exceptionally tough.

But the gap between a High-level Great Dou Shi and a Low-level Dou Zhe was simply too great. It was not something a sturdy physique could make up for.

And most importantly, at the instant Xiao Yan's fist collided with Gale Bi's clawed hand, Xiao Yu sharply noticed a strange white glimmer flash from the ring on Xiao Yan's chest.

Although she had no definite evidence, Xiao Yu's instincts told her that Xiao Yan had avoided having his arm shattered because of that white light.

What exactly was that?

With this question in her heart, Xiao Yu carried Xiao Yan on her back and followed everyone back to the Xiao Family.

Since the training had just ended today, the Xiao Family disciples were all enjoying a long-awaited rest in their rooms and knew nothing about what had happened.

Otherwise, given how the Xiao Family disciples always put the Xiao Family first, seeing Xiao Yan unconscious in such a miserable state might have sent them charging straight to the Gale Family to make trouble.

"Xiao Yu, I have just checked. Yan'er's injuries are no longer a serious problem. He only needs to rest peacefully for a while." With his hands behind his back, Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yu and spoke slowly. "Those children have just come down from the mountain and need proper rest as well. There is no need to disturb them. I will leave Yan'er in your care."

"Don't worry, Clan Leader. I will take good care of Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yu nodded in assurance. Then, under Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder's watchful eyes, she carried Xiao Yan to his bedroom and gently placed him on the bed. After rummaging through the room and finding a medicine box, she carefully applied medicine to Xiao Yan's injuries.

Although there was no serious problem, it was still best to apply medicine when possible. It was safer that way.

After applying the medicine, Xiao Yu stripped off Xiao Yan's clothes, which had been changed not long ago only to be damaged again, tucked the blanket around him, pulled a chair from the table to the bedside, and slowly sat down, quietly watching his sleeping face.

After not seeing him for a year, several traces of childishness had faded from Xiao Yan's face. His resolute features made him appear two or three years older than his actual age.

Although Xiao Yan's cruel actions at the Gale Family had startled Xiao Yu, she did not feel the slightest fear of him. Instead, warmth flowed into her heart.

Xiao Yan had done this for her.

When she returned, she had been harassed by the Gale Family at the Xiao Family Market. Thanks to her outstanding strength, she had not allowed Gale Ao and his group to succeed and had returned safely.

By normal logic, the matter should have ended there.

After all, Xiao Yu had not been harmed, and Gale Ao's group had been thoroughly beaten by Xiao Yu and the Xiao Family Guards. They had received their punishment.

But Xiao Yan did not see it that way.

Xiao Yu knew very well that when she told him the Gale Family had tried to abduct her, the first thing Xiao Yan thought of must have been another possible outcome.

What if Sister Xiao Yu hadn't been able to beat them? What if Sister Xiao Yu had truly been abducted by Gale Ao and his men? What if they had truly done something to Sister Xiao Yu?

Xiao Yan... he had to be afraid of that, hadn't he?

And that was why he had become so furious.

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan with a faint smile and reached out to gently stroke his face.

To Xiao Yan, if something had truly happened to her, then everything would have been too late. No matter what he did afterward, nothing could be undone.

Just like that time—the first and only time he had revealed his brutal side before the Xiao Family disciples.

Oh, no.

Xiao Yu corrected herself inwardly.

Including today, it had been twice.

But unlike last time, when it had been for all the brothers and sisters of the Xiao Family, this time it had been only for her.

Thinking about it this way makes me a little happy~

Xiao Yu chuckled softly, her gaze gentle as she looked at the sleeping Xiao Yan.

It was because such an outstanding boy like you had always been by my side that I couldn't look twice at any man in the academy~

Suddenly, Xiao Yu caught sight of the ring on Xiao Yan's chest from the corner of her eye. Recalling the strange white flash she had seen at the Gale Family, her delicate eyebrow knitted tightly.

She knew this ring was a keepsake from Xiao Yan's mother. Logically, there should not have been any problem with it.

Yet there was one thing she should have noticed but never had, forcing Xiao Yu to grow suspicious.

The time Xiao Yan had lost his Dou Qi coincided exactly with the time he began wearing this ring!

In other words, the reason Xiao Yan had lost his Dou Qi three years ago was very likely closely related to this ring!

Supporting herself against the bed with one hand, Xiao Yu gently lifted the ring on Xiao Yan's chest with the other. A bold guess arose in her heart.

If this ring had truly absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi before, and if it had truly protected Xiao Yan at the Gale Family just now, then this ring might very well possess self-awareness!

With that possibility in mind, Xiao Yu fixed her eyes tightly on the ring and spoke in a cold voice.

"Come out. I know you're in there."